PLDT’s Nazareno is best CEO in RP for second straight year

MANILA, Philippines, January 4, 2006 – PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno was chosen as the best chief executive in the Philippines for the second straight year by Asiamoney, one of Asia’s leading finance magazines, in its latest survey of investors and analysts.

The survey involved mega-funds, hedge funds and brokerages worldwide to find out the best-managed companies and top executives in Asia. PLDT was chosen as the best-managed company in the Philippines in the large cap category for the third straight year.

“As Asiamoney’s winner of the best large-cap corporate in the Philippines for 2005, PLDT has excelled in many areas. While inevitably the result of a team effort, analysts and investors see president and chief executive Napoleon L. Nazareno—known as Polly to his friends—as the leading force behind the company,” said Asiamoney in its December2005/January 2005 issue.

The magazine also quoted one fund manager saying that Nazareno “has been very astute in terms of getting the company to where it is today as a leading player in the market.”

Nazareno said in the Asiamoney article that consensus is central to his management style. “The biggest challenge managers face is often in the area of execution. When you involve people in the decision-making process, it is usually much easier to win their support,” said Nazareno.

The poll includes all the key analysts and investors for each country. These people are usually the heads of research in each country or senior fund managers or chief information officers of the leading international and domestic players. They were asked which companies stood out or impressed them in 2005.

There were three categories in the rankings: small cap companies (less than $300 million), medium cap companies ($300 million to $700 million) and large cap companies (over $700 million). PLDT topped the list in the large cap category.

The survey collected qualitative and quantitative data of the companies involved in the individual markets to come up with the rankings. Some of the criteria include overall financial and business performance, management strategy and vision, investor relations or access to management and transparency, corporate governance, focus on shareholder value and operational efficiency.

“In the eyes of the investing community, PLDT, the Philippines’ largest provider of fixed-line, wireless and other communications services, has continued to lead on all fronts. Management is highly regarded for being proactive on delivering its message, such as   de-leveraging and enhancing dividends and shareholder value,” said Asiamoney in its story.

“Analysts and investors agree it is also one of the best companies in the Philippines as regards corporate governance and strategy, investor relations and operating efficiency,” it added.